Lawn-mower drive



April 22,1930. J; c. SLONNEGER LAWN MOWER DRIVE 'Filed NOV. 21, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS April 22, 1930. J. c. sLoNNEGER 1,755,844

LAWN MOWER DRIVE Filed Nov. 21; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 All A IIlH lllllllllllllllllllH" I I J w;

A TTORNEYS.

" "erence characters in both views.

Patented Apr. 22, 1 930 [UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. SLONNEGER, or MILWAUKEE, WIsoonsIN, ASSIGNOR To IJIILWAUKEEPOWEB' ELAWN MOWER; QOM ANY, 0F MILWAUKEE, W scons n, A conroRA'rIoN 0F WIS-' OONSIN LAwN-M-owERInRIvE f Application filed. November 21,1927. seriaino 234301.

' provide resilient means in the connecting members whereby the sickle bar may be guided and yieldably guard.

In the drawings Figure l is a front view ofa power lawn mower showing my improved drive mechanism. 7 r

- Figure 2 is a side view of the front portion of a lawn mower equipped with my device.

Like parts are identified by the same refpressed against the sickle It is of utmost importance in the operation of power lawn mowers having a-sickle' bar and a sickle guard for active cutting equipment to provide a driving mechanism for the sickle bar which will have incorporated in it elements providing positive rec-iprocatory mechanism for transmitting cutting motion to the sickle bar and also flexible members permitting the sickle bar to be resiliently guided and resiliently pressed against the sickle guard.

Obviously in a lawn mower to be used in parks and .cemeteries'where trimming comprises a large share of the work to vbe performed, it is important that the cutting means be situated in front of the mower mechanism generally and be so extensive as to cut grass in a swath at least as wide as the complete outer dimensions'of the mower machine. I have, therefore, provided such a cutting mechanism in my power lawn mower and I have mounted it as follows 1 I Two weight carrying traction wheels 1 50 supporta frame 2 upon which is mounted a man 16.

motor 3 with theusual cylinderl and crank case 5; At the anterior portionof-this frame, I have provided an enclosed gear boxf6 wherein the drive mechanism for transmitting ro tary motion of the crank shaft 7' to the reciprocatorymotion of the sickle bar 8 is mounted. This. sickle vbar 8 performs its work in co-operation'with a sickle guard 9' which is carried'at theextreme forward'end of my entirepower mower structure, by the forwardly extending portion ofthe' frame at '10. i

QWithin the gear case 6, a'pinion 12, 1n'ount- I ed on the" crank shaft 7 co-acts with a gear '13 to provide the proper reduction in speed necessaryj between the rapidly; revolving crank shaft 7 andthe comparatively slowly reciprocating sickle bar 8, the gear 18 being mounted upon a shaft 14 provided with'a crank arm-15 to whichis pivotallysecured af pitmanf16. A cross" head 17 secured tothe end of the connecting rod 18 is providedwi th a stub shaft 1'9"which forms a pivotal con-i nection betweenthe'cros's head and the pit- Each side of the crank case 6 is provided o with "a pair of vertically disposed bearing 2 members 20 and 21'for upper and lower guide rods 22 and 23 respectively and at each end of these guide rods 11 have provided a head 24; to which Ihavesecured spring' straps 25 and 26 which extends forwardly-and downwardly to a point of connection at27 with the sickle bar 8. I

It will be noted upon examination ofFig-' ure 2 that the sickle bar-8 isyery loosely, mounted for reciprocation upon sickle uard 9, there being substantial clearance at 2 and I at 28 to enable'the sickle bar freedom of motion when obstructionsor heavy cutting are encountered; v r s y operation my device functions" as follows :'rotary-motion= of the crank shaft 7 is transmitted through the pinion 12 and thegear -13 to the crank 15 which with'its pitman connection 16 translates this rotary motion into reciprocatory'motion of the cross head 17. This cross head is free to move uponthe: guide rodes 22 and 23 but'is se-' cured tightly to the gend' of the connecting rod 18. Through the head 24, however this reciprocatory movement of the connecting rod '18 is transmitted to the guide rods 22 and23 so that the head 24 at the other end 7 of the guide rods is rigidly connected with the head 24secured at the end of the-connecting rod. 18: The spring strapsi25iand- 26, therefore, secured to the heads 24 move to gether to provide movement to thesicklebar. These spring straps QQand 26 are flexible only in an upward and downward "direction since they are of substantial width and only moderate thickness. The power developedbythe motor therefore is positively exerted inureciprocation of the sickle bar at the same time P mi in xere hee hie ra ticks on wire compelthe sicklebar, to move upal d y. O t-pi mme ate c n t w h; t sickleguard 9.

I have, therefore, provided the power connection for. the; sickle-bar which combinesnot only; the positive motionnecessary to the operation of my cutting mechanism but also incorporates sufiicient resilience to yield in times of stress so as to prevent injury to the sicklev bar 8.; V e r It will likewise be noted that by reason of the particular construction shown in the drawingsmy ,device is adaptedto accomplish its ,best.,results when heavylgrowthof grass is. encountered, 'Heavier pressure against the points or; cutting, edges of the sickle-"bar will cause the sickle bar to be pressed back Wardlyr against the spring straps 25 and 26 and the additional spring pressure induced thereby will cause the sickle bar to beardown V tightly against the Shear portions of the sickle guardy thereby irnproving the cutting and hee i g i nbetv en th k ickle ard nd the sickle bar. 7 V

' l leim= 1. A power mower provided, with a sickle. uerdr en s lelb Pow means pr vid: s.- reciprQceting lQtiQ lV nd a p ingr nconnection betweenthe power means andthe l er, aislusprins ren P v ding irectiQnal andfpressure means. for; moving the. k e th refere c bathe, s kl ar 2. A power mower provided with a sickle a F :%I d.- l!i am-W mean providing re ip o ng m t mend sp strepvcone nection between, the power me ans;1,and .the

' ip e ted iekl W er rfihe r ui dend r 3.1111 a power mower provided with a:

sickle guard and sickle bar, amotonprovidmg ..r otative power, means for converting rotary mot on of the motor, nto meciprocas: tory motion, a guiderod forcreceiving the recipr ocatoryv-motion and a spring strap bewfi l z igl de fQd, andthe sickle bar to pro.- i e/1 1 3 5; guidingand T reciprocating ndbar; r

4L In a .powermower provided withasickle g-gelldrandis ck fi ane qmotor connection bev. 

